MASTERING THE MOVE

A Cheat Sheet to Moving Abroad

 

If you're on this page, chances are you're seriously thinking about making the move. You are not alone! More and more Americans are packing up their lives and moving abroad to beautiful, exotic, foreign lands. Whether it's the lure of new adventures, the promise of a lower cost of living, or a bid to escape the current political climate (no comment), the reasons are as varied as the destinations.

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I want to share what I’ve seen firsthand, to hopefully offer some insight, direction and solace to your big, exciting, life-changing decision. From the initial spark of an idea to the logistics of settling in a new country, I'll walk you through it right here, right now. Think of this as your pre-requisite to the more personalized work we’ll do together to get you on that plane.

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Why Move Abroad?

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Here’s a better question. Why NOT move abroad?! Besides living a life of daily adventure, exploration, and fun - it offers a deeply transformative and life-changing experience that will likely inspire you to see yourself and the world differently. After living abroad for 5 years of my life and helping dozens of people do the same, I can ensure you one thing: Your life will be changed, forever. 

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Living abroad fosters personal growth, offering a chance to acquire new perspectives. In this journey, every step taken outside of your comfort zone contributes to self-discovery. It's a time of introspection where you get to question, challenge, and ultimately understand yourself better. Scientifically speaking, learning to communicate in a foreign language and navigate daily life in a foreign land enhances cognitive flexibility, heightens self-reliance, and extends cultural empathy. Warning: if you’re not ready to have your worldview completely flipped, don’t go. ;)

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So, let's break it down, shall we?

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Choosing the Right Destination

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You know you want to go abroad. But WHERE?!? In my coaching program, I personally help you get super clear on this by deep diving into all the factors that will make you thrive in your new home - from size of the city or town, to geographical location, language and expat community. To aid, I even have a quiz to help you find the perfect place for you! To start those wheels turning, here are a few factors to consider.

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Factors to Consider: Climate, Culture, and Cost of Living

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There’s a myriad of factors that go into choosing your new home - three primary ones being the climate, culture, and cost of living.

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Climate! Do you see yourself chillin’ out on a tropical beach in a bikini with a coconut in hand? Maybe Vietnam is your spot. OR, do you see yourself trekking through snow capped mountains, bundled up and surrounded by jaw dropping scenery? Maybe Switzerland is your spot!

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Culture! Culture encompasses a vast spectrum, stretching from language, traditions, societal norms, food to social connection. Ask yourself, what kind of cultures do you vibe in? Do you thrive in warm, community-based cultures like Spain? Or, do you prefer a more formal, highly structured culture like Japan?

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Cost! What’s your budget, and what kind of lifestyle do you want for yourself? Do you want to live like royalty on a shoestring budget (ok, when I put it like that, who doesn’t?!)? Or, do you prefer to have a higher cost of living in exchange for more of the creature comforts of home? I recommend working backwards: take into account your monthly budget, and see what countries might be suitable for you. Speaking of…

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Top Destinations for Expats

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The good news? More and more US Citizens are moving abroad, and with that, more and more countries are adding visa options (digital nomad visas, golden visas, etc.) to their immigration infrastructure. The world is your oyster! 

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Here are a few top destinations for US expats, factoring in quality of life, visa options, culture, food and climate:

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In Asia, Thailand, Vietnam and Malaysia are great options for its affordability, amazing food, warm climate, insanely stunning nature, friendliness to foreigners, and great visa options. 

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In Europe, Germany, Spain, Portugal and Georgia (a true uncovered gem!) are all incredible options, offering obtainable visa options, amazing quality of life, and tons to explore.

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In Latin America, Mexico, Costa Rica and Colombia are amazing options for their nature, culturally rich cities, cost of living, and accessible visa options. In fact, I’m currently living in Mexico - ask me all about it! 

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This list is just the start. There is no shortage of options! The question is: which is right for you?! 

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Planning Your Move

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Transitioning to a life abroad is both exciting and challenging. It involves significant planning and preparation to ensure a smooth relocation process. Let's delve deeper into the logistics and legal requirements, and setting up finances to provide a more detailed guide.

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Logistics and Legal Requirements

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Planning a move abroad involves dealing with logistics and satisfying legal requirements. Once you have your location, you can start researching the visa options and requirements of your chosen country. There is plenty of information online, but I recommend working with an immigration lawyer to ensure a stress-free, seamless transition. Personally, I’ve done it both ways - scrappily piecing the immigration info together to figure it out myself (when I was in my 20s, wouldn’t do it now 😅), and working with an immigration lawyer to have a seamless transition (the difference of being in your 30s).

 

My conclusion? It’s possible to figure it out yourself, but friends - life is too short to torture yourself. If your budget permits, get an immigration lawyer.

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Healthcare

 

Check the healthcare services available in your destination country and consider investing in travel health insurance. Whether you need travel health insurance will really depend on the country you’re moving to and your health needs. Personally, I have US health insurance that covers any emergency visits, and out-of-pocket costs where I live (Mexico) are very affordable. 

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Overcoming Common Challenges

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When you decide to move abroad, it's inevitable that you’ll face hurdles during your transition. What might those hurdles be? Here are some of the most common ones I’ve seen.

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Dealing with Homesickness and Cultural Shock

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Relocating to a foreign country can spark feelings of homesickness, culture shock, and/or frustration when trying to navigate life’s daily errands (my favorite example: recharging your monthly phone plan. Don’t get me started.). Here are a few ways to proactively get ahead of these hurdles:

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• Continue your normal routine: Regular habits you had in your home country, like morning workouts or Sunday meal prep give the sense of normalcy and stability while adjusting to your new surroundings.

• Connecting with loved ones back home: It’s easy to let your connection with loved ones at home slip with all the excitement of your new life. Proactively scheduling time to connect with your favorite people at home will ensure those important relationships in your life continue to be nurtured, regardless of distance.

•  Making new connections: Attend local events, join clubs, look for local Whatsapp communities and Facebook groups, and/or volunteer to form relationships in your new community.

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How to combat culture shock? It’s one thing when you experience culture shock as a traveler. It’s another if you are building a life in a new culture! if you are struggling, here are a few tips to embrace the initial shock:

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• Accept the change: Embrace the differences. Instead of forcing your way of life on your new surroundings, approach the cultural differences with curiosity.

• Cook at home: Comfort food, anyone? There’s nothing like a home cooked meal to bring you back to your roots.

• Connect with other expats: Chances are, they’ve gone through the same transitional period you have. Ask for insights on how they have navigated their arrival, where they buy their groceries, their favorite pizza joint, who they trust to fix their plumbing, you name it. Expat communities are incredibly supportive!

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Navigating Language Barriers

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Don’t know the language? Don’t fret. Here’s a few ways to navigate language barriers and learn as quickly as your adult brain can:

• Learn local mannerisms: hand gestures mean different things in different places. For example, when I lived in Vietnam, a shake of the hand meant “no”, but in the US, we’d interpret the same shake of the hand as “so-so”. Pay close attention to local mannerisms, and incorporate them into your unspoken language.

• Language exchange meetups: These happen all over, and they are the best! Not only do you get to practice the language with other learners and locals, but you get to meet people while you’re at it. It's a win-win.

• Enroll in a local class: Find a local tutor for 1:1 classes, or enroll in a language school. This is also another great way to build your community!

• Language apps: Duolingo, Verbling, Babbel and Pimsleur are all great apps to start learning right now.

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Seatbelts on?

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Ok, you now know some of the key considerations - but NOW WHAT?! Moving abroad can seem overwhelming. I get it. I’ve only done it THREE TIMES! If you’re ready to take the leap (or you’re seriously thinking about it, but not sure if it’s right for you or where to begin), let’s connect. I will help you design your dream career and life abroad, and help you get on that plane sooner than you can say “letsgoomgIcan’twaittolivemybestlive”.